VIDEO: Officers Take Out Gangbanger Who Ambushed Police Car At Stoplight

Holly Matkin

Oct 8, 2019

LAPD officers fatally shot known gang member Roberto Rene Gabriel after he ambushed them at a stoplight.

Los Angeles, CA – Security and bodycam footage captured the moment that a known gang member ambushed uniformed Los Angeles police officers as they pulled up to a red light in the city’s El Sereno neighborhood (video below).

The incident occurred at approximately 11:25 p.m. on Aug. 18 as the officers were working a crime suppression detail near North Lombardy Boulevard and East Alhambra Avenue, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) said in the video release.

As they pulled up at the intersection in their marked patrol SUV, the gunman fired a single round, hitting the driver’s door of their vehicle.

Security footage from nearby cameras showed the suspect as he crossed the street in the crosswalk.

The video showed that the shooter got within feet of the vehicle before he opened fire.

Police said that the suspect, later identified as 33-year-old Roberto Rene Gabriel, fled on foot down a nearby alley.

The officers made a U-turn and radioed for additional units to respond to the area as they attempted to cut the suspect off at the end of the alleyway.

“As they reached the intersection of Belleglade Avenue and Alhambra Avenue, the officers observed the suspect on the north sidewalk of Alhambra Avenue,” the LAPD said in the release. “The officers exited their vehicle and the suspect fired at them again.”

When the officers returned fire, the suspect turned around and ran eastbound until he was intercepted by backup officers, who also returned fire.

“The suspect was struck by gunfire and taken into custody,” according to police. “Los Angeles Fire Department Firefighter/Paramedics responded and transported the suspect to a local hospital, where he was treated for a yet undetermined number of gunshot wounds.”

The gunman later died of his wounds.

Officers recovered Gabriel’s 9mm handgun was recovered at the scene.

The LAPD’s Force Investigation Division is handling the ongoing investigation into the officer-involved shooting, which is also being monitored by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Justice System Integrity Division and the Office of the Inspector General.

The investigative findings will be reviewed by the inspector general, the Board of Police Commissioners, and the LAPD chief of police to determine “whether the use of deadly force complied with the LAPD’s policies and procedures,” according to the release.

The district attorney’s office will determine whether or not the officers violated any laws during the altercation with the gunman.

Gabriel had previously been convicted of offenses that included carrying a concealed weapon, vandalism, robbery, possession of an assault weapon, and evading a police officer, according to the LAPD.

Police said he was also a known member of a Los Angeles-based street gang.

Watch footage of the officers’ shootout with Gabriel in the video below (WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT):

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Comments (69)

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No. 1-29

flybynight

Oct 8, 2019

Hey boogers look!!!! Finally a real ambush!!!!

32 Replies

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flybynight

Oct 9, 2019

I'm independently wealthy.

LEO0301

Oct 9, 2019

He gets paid to harrass you. Seems like he is doing an amazing job.

flybynight

Oct 9, 2019

👌

flybynight

Oct 9, 2019

Don't tell anyone but I'd do it for free.

Bigyoda20

Oct 9, 2019

Hi_estComnDenomn, Do you ever stop being a douche bag?

flybynight

Oct 9, 2019

🤑

flybynight

Oct 9, 2019

⛵

Necroignisamoron

Oct 9, 2019

What ever your 2 dads want

flybynight

Oct 9, 2019

👌

flybynight

Oct 9, 2019

Funny how "it's" so curious about what I do for a living 🙄like it matters.

flybynight

Oct 9, 2019

Doesn't seem so.

flybynight

Oct 9, 2019

👻

flybynight

Oct 9, 2019

🤑👌

LEO0301

Oct 9, 2019

" don't make me find out what you do for a living, bud!" I hope you don't plan to dox him, Cameron, that would be illegal. Although that has never deterred you before.

LEO0301

Oct 9, 2019

Just you, Cammy.

gfc1963

Oct 9, 2019

Don't bother replying to that shithead. Just ignore him. Not worth a second of your time.

flybynight

Oct 9, 2019

I completely agree but for the record, which shithead are you talking about or maybe just ignore them all and call it a day.

SAAM

Oct 9, 2019

And film for Basement Bunny!

SAAM

Oct 9, 2019

The answer is no.

flybynight

Oct 9, 2019

It's an ambush it's not an ambush. Which is it?

IseeWhereThisIsGoing

Oct 9, 2019

nope, wasn't an ambush, he walked up to the police car out in the open, he wasn't hiding. There you go @Burgers Allday I did it for you, so you don't even have to say it wasn't an ambush

flybynight

Oct 9, 2019

I usually rely on Booger's for the ambush/not an ambush thing. /sarc off.

flybynight

Oct 10, 2019

100% confirmed by Booger's, not an ambush so we can put this puppy to bed. 👍👌👍👌

gfc1963

Oct 10, 2019

Well I stopped replying to HCD, but Boogers is still fiar game.

flybynight

Oct 10, 2019

Boogers ever respond back?

flybynight

Oct 10, 2019

Highest weed smoker!! I like that. He must be smoking something that's for sure. It's fun making him blow a fuse.

gfc1963

Oct 10, 2019

Not so far!

Darkwing219

Oct 10, 2019

FYI Same guy..

flybynight

Oct 10, 2019

I'm not surprised. I've suspected it for quite a while now.

Bigyoda20

Oct 11, 2019

You’re one of those “tolerant, inclusive progressives” i see. Aka douche bag.

shooter

Oct 8, 2019

Gang initiation?

JBo

Oct 8, 2019

"...officers were working a crime suppression detail..."

Mission accomplished.

LEO0301

Oct 9, 2019

Sounds like the investigation into the shooting should take about five minutes.

antialien

Oct 9, 2019

Gabriel is a punk ass bitch. Good riddance you piece of garbage. You got what you deserve.

NealZ

Oct 9, 2019

Dead is good, bye bye.

nadkram

Oct 9, 2019

No lose in my mind.... glad the officers are ok

reverett456117502

Oct 9, 2019

I'll gladly say it again: Good Guys = 1 Bad Guy = 0 the way it should be!!!!!

BarbMomof5

Oct 9, 2019

I am glad that the officers are ok. The Gang Banger Gabriel got exactly what he deserved!

Sdbieker

Oct 9, 2019

Yay for the officers glad they are safe!! Another pos dead... keep up the good work LEO👍🙌

Ryerver

Oct 9, 2019

I love a happy ending

slom42

Oct 9, 2019

good another scumbag dead

gfc1963

Oct 9, 2019

Good job by the cops. Fuck that piece of shit.

Dindu Nuttin

Oct 9, 2019

No First Communion pic ?

NFPD103

Oct 9, 2019

Another POS shit off the streets a clean shoot.

NomonK

Oct 9, 2019

Where are all the cop Haters. You have no response for you hoodie being taken down.
Way to go LAPD.

Burgers Allday

Oct 9, 2019

This was not an ambush, as one can clearly see in the frame grab at the top of this post.

MSK

Oct 9, 2019

As I’ve said in the past, the OIS shooting will also be investigated by the kid on the corner selling lemonade, the owner of a canoe rental business in Minnesota and, the Pope himself. And I’m sure they can find another 12 to 20 agencies or people to waste their time investigating what was clearly a more than justifiable use of force. SMFH

MSK

Oct 9, 2019

And another scum
Bag getting put in the eternity box.

Bobholly79

Oct 9, 2019

Gee was he an illegal alien in a sanctuary city????

Saints

Oct 9, 2019

Thanks to the POS!! for pushing the officers, to save tax payers $$$$...

Burgers Allday

Oct 9, 2019

Not an ambush. Shooter not in a position of cover. No laying in wait either.

maxx1676

Oct 9, 2019

There's racial profiling for a reason folks.
Acknowledging the problem often results in being called racist.... "for pointing out reality".

AndyD1134

Oct 10, 2019

And now his family are the next contestants of the GHETTO LOTTERY!!!
They will sue and say he was a great person and the police should have used pepper spray!
This fuckin piece of dog shit got what he deserved!
Too bad they didnt put a couple in the back of his head!

TexasStrong

Oct 10, 2019

Hey look! Roberto won grand champion in the stupid game he started.

Wish505

Oct 10, 2019

LOL Pop goes another weasel.

modixie

Oct 11, 2019

Another story with a warm fuzzy ending.

RoyC

Oct 12, 2019

"The investigative findings will be reviewed by the inspector general, the Board of Police Commissioners, and the LAPD chief of police to determine “whether the use of deadly force complied with the LAPD’s policies and procedures,” according to the release."